Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Babet. I note that you now join Labor senators in asking questions about agriculture, and I look forward to the National Party one day joining you in sharing your interest in the agriculture sector of Australia. Maybe we will get there one day.

Again, Senator Babet, I know that the issues around vaccines are of great interest to you. I can inform you that currently there are no mRNA vaccines currently registered for use in livestock in Australia, and there are no vaccines that are mandatory for any Australian livestock under the Biosecurity Act. I am certainly aware, like you, Senator Babet, of some discussion that is occurring and some trials and things like that in relation to mRNA vaccines, and there is a lot of interest about that in the agriculture community and the wider community. I am aware that a research project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia is currently being undertaken by the New South Wales government, and that project has commenced trials on the immunological response to an mRNA vaccine construct in Canada. There is work starting to happen with Australian industry in partnership with state governments on these issues, but, at the moment, these trials are being undertaken to determine whether mRNA vaccines are safe and effective for animals.

I think, implicit in your question, was an acknowledgement that we do need to make sure that, as new vaccines and products come online, they are safe, both for livestock and for the humans who may consume the livestock in the form of meat. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has the role of evaluating the safety and efficacy of veterinary vaccines and chemicals before permitting or registering them for use. That includes whether meat from animals vaccinated with mRNA vaccines would be safe to eat. I think it is fair to say that we are at a very early stage of looking at what mRNA vaccines can do, and the safety of animals and humans is paramount. (Time expired)